Sources say senior Houthis such as Abdul Malik Al Houthi, left, and Mohammed Al Houthi, are in no danger. EPA / AFP
Sources say senior Houthis such as Abdul Malik Al Houthi, left, and Mohammed Al Houthi, are in no danger. EPA / AFP
Sources say senior Houthis such as Abdul Malik Al Houthi, left, and Mohammed Al Houthi, are in no danger. EPA / AFP
Sources say senior Houthis such as Abdul Malik Al Houthi, left, and Mohammed Al Houthi, are in no danger. EPA / AFP

Houthi leaders 'heavily protected' against US strikes


Mohamad Ali Harisi
  • English
  • Arabic

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Attacking the leaders of Yemen's Houthi rebels by air with any success is "impossible", as they are heavily protected against US strikes, a Yemeni security source in Sanaa has told The National, saying American intelligence on the Iran-backed group was insufficient.

Washington launched a barrage of strikes on Yemen on Saturday aimed at pressuring the Houthis to end their attacks on key global shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Houthi-controlled Sanaa was heavily hit, including northern districts frequented by members of the rebels' leadership. US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz said the attacks "targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out".

The Houthis, part of Iran's "axis of resistance" in the Middle East against the US and Israel, have been attacking Red Sea ships with missiles and drones in what they call a campaign of solidarity with the Palestinians, driven by the Gaza war. On Tuesday they claimed their third attack in 48 hours, taking aim at the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier and supporting ships in its strike group.

Their leaders are "heavily protected by precautionary measures and targeting them by air is impossible as there is no intelligence available regarding their residences", the source told The National. "The US seems to have no real intelligence and the information they have is misleading."

Washington has vowed to keep striking Yemen until the Houthis stop their attacks, with US President Donald Trump warning he will hold Iran accountable for any further strikes carried out by the group.

"Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible," Mr Trump posted on social media.

Iran responded by calling Mr Trump's statement "belligerent".

A US fighter plane takes off for a military operation against the Houthis in an unknown location. Reuters via Centcom
A US fighter plane takes off for a military operation against the Houthis in an unknown location. Reuters via Centcom

The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV channel reported more US strikes on Monday night in the Hodeidah and Al Salif regions of Yemen, while the Huthi Ansarollah website said strikes hit Yemen's capital Sanaa early on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Houthis said two US air strikes hit the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship hijacked by the rebels in November 2023 and taken to the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

Targeting the Galaxy "reflects a state of frustration and failure" on the part of the US administration, the source told The National.

The Houthi campaign has disrupted the vital Red Sea shipping route, which normally carries about 12 per cent of the world's traffic. The attacks have forced many companies into a costly and lengthy detour around the southern tip of Africa.

The Yemeni security source said the Houthis possess "military technology that no other armed group has" and warned: "There will be surprises."

"The Houthis' options are vast and they have a vast database on the US," they added. "They can shut down the Red Sea completely."

Another security source in Sanaa told The National an escalation in Houthi shipping attacks should be expected. "The Houthis will now act as if the aggression against Yemen and the region hasn't stopped," they said.

But a US defence official said at the weekend that the Houthis are "well known for false claims minimising the results of our attacks while exaggerating the successes of theirs" and that they "continue to communicate lies and disinformation".

US Air Force Lt Gen Alexus Grynkewich said the rebels were missing their targets "by over 100 miles" (160km).

Tens of thousands of Yemenis turned out on the streets of Sanaa in protest over the US air strikes, with many waving assault rifles, daggers, or copies of the Quran, chanting "Death to America". The US attacks have killed 53 people, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said.

There were also large crowds in Saada, the birthplace of the Houthi movement, and demonstrations in Dhamar, Hodeidah and Amran, footage on Al Masirah showed.

The Houthis control much of Yemen after ousting the internationally recognised government from Sanaa. They have been at war with a Saudi-led coalition backing the government since 2015, a conflict that has led to a major humanitarian crisis. Fighting has largely been on hold since a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 but the peace process has stalled since the Houthis began their attacks on shipping.

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Tips for SMEs to cope
  • Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
  • Make sure you have an online presence
  • Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
  • Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
    Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos

Favourite spice: Cumin

Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter

Results:

CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off

1.           Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds

2.           Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09

3.           Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42

4.           Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63

5.           Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Group A

Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA

Group B

Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti

Group C

Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia

Group D

Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand

October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
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MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
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  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Who is Ramon Tribulietx?

Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role. 

Results:

Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.

RESULTS
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HEADLINE HERE
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The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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Updated: March 18, 2025, 12:48 PM